The New Meaning Of Airline Packing - 1370 Words

The New Meaning to Airline Packing Before 9/11 when Americans boarded an airplane, the only worry that crossed their minds could have been hijackers holding the airplane, the crew, and the passengers for some kind of ransom, or something going wrong with the airplane itself. After 9/11, we are now seeing a new kind of hijacker; terrorists who use the airplanes themselves as weapons against the people they hate. They run the airplanes into buildings to kill as many people they can with one attempt. This paper will take a look at what the government did in the days after 9/11 to put into place a defense against terrorists. From the Aviation and Transportation Act that was passed in November of 2001, Arming Pilots Against Terrorism Act that†¦show more content†¦This act required airlines to use stronger materials in the construction of cock pit doors, heavier locks, and video monitors for pilots to view what is happening in the cabin. Putting in wireless devices for the flight crew to notify the cockpit of any problems. Just weeks after this act was passed by Congress the airline Jet Blue had these requirements in every airplane they own. Putting crew and passengers safety before their profit. This act also gave to the Under Secretary of Transportation the job recruiting, training, and providing weapons for air marshals for each flight. As an elite group, highly trained, the air marshals will set with the passengers and have the advantage of knowing what is going on inside the cabin at all times. Carol Hallett, head of the Airline Transportation Association said â€Å"The wisest investment in improving security is hiring more air marshals because they are highly trained to provide professional protection.† (Renna, 2003) This protection is costing the airlines approximately $3,000 per air marshal, per flight. Requiring two air marshals in each plane. Part of the Aviation and Transportation Security Act gave the Under Secretary of Transportation the job to recruit, train, and air pilots using similar training programs that were used for air marshals. The program for the pilots is done on a volunteer basis program only. In